Helmet buckle with magnetic alignment

ABSTRACT

A helmet buckle having magnetic alignment reduces pinching caused by typical bicycle helmet buckles. The helmet buckle having magnetic alignment includes magnets in a base and a clip that align the parts to each other and help secure the buckle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/815,625 filed on Apr. 24, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of helmet buckles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a helmet buckle that includes magnets for securely aligning the buckle.

BACKGROUND

Bicycle helmets are important pieces of safety equipment that are widely used by cyclists and “action sports” participants. Typical bicycle helmets are held onto a rider's head by a system of straps, including a chin strap that passes under a rider's chin to secure the helmet to the rider's head. A wide variety of buckles are used to secure the chin strap to the rest of the straps. Many bicycle helmets include “side release” buckles, similar to those found on backpacks and duffel bags. Side release buckles include a male buckle member and a female buckle member. The male buckle member typically includes a center guide portion and two spring arms spaced from the center rod. The two spring arms each have a retaining flange. The female buckle member has an open front side and two side holes that retain the retaining flanges of the spring arms when the male buckle member is inserted into the female buckle member. To release the typical side release buckle, a user presses on the two spring arms, thereby releasing the retaining flanges from the open side holes and allowing the male buckle member to be removed from the female buckle member.

Existing side release buckles suffer from a number of shortfalls when used as a helmet buckle. Most notably, there are a number of pinch points present on standard side release buckles that have a tendency to pinch the user's chin or cheek when the buckle is engaged. Additionally, typical bicycle helmets place the buckle under the chin, which may prove difficult to locate if the user is helping a child put on a helmet. Finally, side release buckles are difficult, if not impossible, to use with only one hand.

As such, there is a need for a buckle for a bicycle helmet that reduces the risk of pinching and is easy to locate for the user, especially when helping another, such as a child, secure their helmet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a buckle for attachment to a helmet that has straps. In one embodiment, the buckle is made of two parts: a base and a clip. The base includes a base magnet and is secured to one of the side straps. The clip includes a clip magnet and a retention flange. The clip is secured to the chin strap. The buckle is closed when the retention flange is removably engaged with the base. The clip is aligned to the base by magnetic force generated between the base magnet and the clip magnet. In some embodiments of the present invention, a pull tab is provided on the clip to facilitate removal of the clip from the base. In addition, the base may include a center body having at least one wing adjacent to the center body. The at least one wing may further include a tactile pattern to help a user find the center body by touch.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that one or more aspects of this invention can meet certain objectives, while one or more other aspects can lead to certain other objectives. Other objects, features, benefits and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in this summary and descriptions of the disclosed embodiment, and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such objects, features, benefits and advantages will be apparent from the above as taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures and all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle helmet including one embodiment of a helmet buckle with magnetic alignment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of a helmet buckle with magnetic alignment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the helmet buckle with magnetic alignment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the helmet buckle with magnetic alignment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the helmet buckle with magnetic alignment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the clip of the helmet buckle with magnetic alignment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the base of the helmet buckle with magnetic alignment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the helmet buckle with magnetic alignment of FIG. 1 showing the buckle in a closed position;

FIG. 9 is another perspective view of the helmet buckle with magnetic alignment of FIG. 1 showing the clip being removed from the base;

FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the helmet buckle with magnetic alignment of FIG. 1 showing the clip removed from the base;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a helmet buckle with magnetic alignment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 12 is another perspective view of the helmet buckle with magnetic alignment of FIG. 11 showing the buckle in a closed position;

FIG. 13 is another perspective view of the helmet buckle with magnetic alignment of FIG. 11 showing the clip being removed from the base; and

FIG. 14 is another perspective view of the helmet buckle with magnetic alignment of FIG. 11 showing the clip removed from the base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-5 show one embodiment of a helmet buckle with magnetic alignment 200 in accordance with the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the helmet buckle with magnetic alignment 200 is typically attached to a bicycle helmet 100. In the embodiment shown, the helmet buckle with magnetic alignment 200 has a base 202 and a clip 204. The base 202 is attached to side strap 206, and the clip 204 is attached to chin strap 208. Unlike typical bicycle helmets that have two-part chin straps with a buckle located under the rider's chin, the bicycle helmet 100 has a one part chin strap 208 and the buckle with magnetic alignment 200 is located at the base of the side strap 206.

Turning now to FIGS. 2-5, the helmet buckle the base 202 has two wings 210, each wing including a wing slot 212 through which the side straps 206 pass, thereby attaching the base to the side straps. In the embodiment shown, each wing 210 also includes a texture pattern 214 to help users locate the base 202 by feel. As shown, the texture pattern 214 is a series of raised bumps, but any other texture may be used without departing from the invention. In addition, the base 202 may be attached to the side straps 206 by any suitable means without departing from the invention. Between the wings 210 is a center body 216 that includes a base magnet 218.

The clip 204 includes a clip magnet 220 that is attracted to the base magnet 218 and aligns the clip to the base 202 when the helmet buckle with magnetic alignment 200 is closed. The clip 204 also includes a retention flange 220 that engages the center body 216 when the helmet buckle with magnetic alignment 200 is closed. The clip 204 has a strap slot 222 that the chin strap 208 passes through, thereby attaching the clip to the chin strap. The clip 204 may be attached to the chin strap by any other suitable means without departing from the invention. The clip 204 also optionally includes a pull tab slot 224 through which a pull tab 226 (see FIG. 1) made of any suitable material may be attached. Alternatively, a rigid pull tab may be formed as an integral part of the clip 204. In the embodiment shown, a non-rigid pull tab reduces the chance of inadvertently disengaging the buckle 200 by bumping the pull tab 226.

To attach the clip 204 to the base 202, a user hooks the retention flange 220 over the center body 216. Placing the retention flange 220 over the center body 216 causes the base magnet 218 and the clip magnet 220 to align to each other and draw the clip 204 onto the base 202.

Turning now to FIGS. 8-10, the removal of the clip 204 from the base 202 is shown. To remove the clip 204 from the base 202, the user simply pulls on the pull tab 226 to disengage the retention flange 220 from the center body 216. Alternatively, the clip 204 may be removed from the base 202 by simply pulling on the clip itself, rather than using the pull tab 226. All that is required is for the retention flange 220 to be disengaged from the center body 216, which is achieved upon disruption of the alignment of the base magnet 218 and the clip magnet 220.

Referring to FIGS. 11-14, another embodiment of a buckle with magnetic alignment 400 is shown. In this embodiment, the buckle with magnetic alignment 400 has a base 402 and a clip 404. The base 402 has two wings 406, each wing including a wing slot 407 through which the side straps pass, thereby attaching the base to the side straps 206. As in the previous embodiment, the base 402 may be attached to the side straps 206 by any other suitable means without departing from the invention. Between the wings 406 is a center body 408 that includes a base magnet 410. At the bottom of the base 402 is a retention flange 412 that engages the clip 404 when the buckle with magnetic alignment 400 is closed.

The clip 404 includes a clip magnet 414 that is attracted to the base magnet and aligns the clip to the base 402 when the buckle with magnetic alignment 400 is closed. The clip 404 has a strap slot 416 that the chin strap 208 passes through, thereby attaching the clip to the chin strap. As in the previous embodiment, the clip 404 may be attached to the chin strap 208 by any suitable means without departing from the invention. In the embodiment shown, the clip 404 includes a pull tab slot 418 through which a pull tab 420 made of any suitable material is attached. Alternatively, a rigid pull tab may be formed as an integral part of the clip 404. In the embodiment shown, a non-rigid pull tab 420 reduces the chance of inadvertently disengaging the buckle with magnetic aliment 400 by bumping the pull tab.

To attach the clip 404 to the base 402, a user hooks the clip over the retention flange 412. Placing the clip 404 over the retention flange 412 causes the base magnet 410 and the clip magnet 414 to align to each other and draw the clip 404 onto the base 402.

Turning now to FIGS. 12-14, the removal of the clip 404 from the base 402 is shown. To remove the clip 404 from the base 402, the user simply pulls on the pull tab 420 to disengage the retention flange 412 from the clip 404.

Although the invention has been herein described in what is perceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments set forth above. Rather, it is recognized that modifications may be made by one of skill in the art of the invention without departing from the spirit or intent of the invention and, therefore, the invention is to be taken as including all reasonable equivalents to the subject matter of the appended claims and the description of the invention herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A buckle for attachment to a helmet having a plurality of side straps and a chin strap comprising: a base secured to one of the side straps and including a base magnet; a clip secured to the chin strap and including a clip magnet and a retention flange; and the retention flange removably engageable to the base, wherein the clip is aligned to the base by magnetic force generated between the base magnet and the clip magnet.
 2. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the base further includes a center body that includes the base magnet.
 3. The buckle of claim 2, wherein the base includes at least one wing adjacent to the center body.
 4. The buckle of claim 3, wherein the at least one wing includes a slot for securing the base to the side straps.
 5. The buckle of claim 3, wherein the at least one wing has a tactile pattern.
 6. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the clip includes a pull tab.
 7. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the clip has a slot for securing the clip to the chin strap. 